Toy



Mar. 20, 1923. 1,449,279. [VI- A. G l B S O N.

TOY.

FILED AUG.24, 1921.

I 20 3444mm Patented Mar. 2@, 1923.;

PATENT clerics.

MINERVA A. GIBSON, E CRISEIEJLD, EMRYLAND.

TOY.

Application-filed August 24, 1921. Serial No. 495,038.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I MINERVA A. GIBSON, citizen of the United s tates, residing at Crisfield, in the-county of Somerset and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in figure toys.

It is well known that young children find considerable enjoyment in being jounced upon the knees or feet of their elders with a motion similar to that attending horseback riding. However, this is very tiring to the one engaged in amusing the child, and the present invention, therefore, has as its object to provide a figure toy by the use of which the child may enjoy precisely the same jouncing motion as that referred to above and with considerable more comfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a figure toy of the general type above mentioned which, while light in weight, and cheap to manufacture, will be exceptionally strong and durable and will be capable of supporting children of various weights.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the toy may be adjusted so as to vary the resistance offered to the movement of the rocking member thereof and thus adapt the same for use by children of different weights.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toy embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical front to ,rear sectional view through the forward, portion of the toy.

The toy embodying the present invention comprises a supporting structure and a figure body which is mounted for rocking movement 'thereon about a fixed center, means being provided for yieldably resisting rocking movement of the said member. The supporting structure comprises a base frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and an upright frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 2. The base frame 1 comprises side members 8 which are connected in spaced relation at their forward ends by a cross piece 4 rigidly secured to them. The said side members 3 of the base frame converge rearwardly and are connected at their rear ends by bolts or other fastening elements 5. The upright frame 2 comprises upstanding side members 6 which extend upwardly in converging relation to each other and at a slight rearward inclination, being secured at their lower ends in any suitable manner to or upon the forward ends of the side members 3 of the base frame. A cross piece 7 extends transversely between the side members 6 of the upright frame 2 and occupies the same plane as the said side members. This member 7 serves to relatively brace the side members 6 and to maintain their upper ends in suitably spaced relation to receive between them the figure body as will presently be described. In order to brace the frame 2 in the position stated above, an inclined brace 8 is secured at its forward end in any suitable manner to the cross piece 7 of the upright frame and is inclined downwardly from this frame in a rearward direction and has its lower or rear end portion deflected to occupy a substantially horizontal plane and, in fact, the same plane as that occupied by the base frame 1. This portion is indicated by the numeral 9 and the same is tapered in the direction of its extremity as indicated by the numeral 10 so that it is adapted to fit snugly between the converging rear end portions of the side members 3 of the frame 1, the same bolt 5 which unites the members .3 serving also to secure in place said rear end portion 9 of the brace 8.

The figure body of the toy is indicated in general by the numeral 11 and the same may be of any fanciful design and, in the course of manufacture, may be made from a single piece of board of the required thickness. The member 11 comprises a body 12 which is preferably flat sided and which, at a point suitably spaced from its forward end, is disposed between the spaced upper ends of the side members 6 of the upright frame 2 and supported for rocking movement upon a bolt 13 which is secured through the said ends of the side members and fits loosely through an opening, 14 formed in the body 12. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the body 12 has its portion forwardly of the pivot bolt 13, carved to simulate the head and neck of a horse or other animal, as indicated by the numeral 15. The portion of the bod 12 which extends rearwardly of the pivot olt 13 may be carved to any desired shape and in the above instance it simulates the limb of a person and terminates in a portion 16 which simulates the foot.

In order that a child using the toy may be comfortably seated thereon, a saddle 17 is arranged and secured upon the upper side of the portion 16 of the body 12, and this saddle is preferably of wood although any other material suitable for the purpose may be employed in its manufacture, and it is likewise preferably transversely rounded, the saddle being gradually narrowed in the directionof its forward end and being preferably beveled upon its under side at its forward end as indicated by the numeral 18. I Thus, the forward end of the saddle is so formed and proportioned that its surfaces will practically mer e with the upper and side surfaces of the body 12 at the front of the foot piece 16.

In order that rocking movement of the body 12 may be yieldably resisted, a compression sprlng 19 is preferably interposed between the body rearwardly of the pivot bolt 13 and a corner block 20 which is set into the angle between the brace 8 and the cross piece 7 of the upright frame 2. The lower end of the spring 19 is preferably fitted over a knob 21'secured upon the block 20, the block for this purpose being provided with a diagonal face 22 presented in an upward and rearward direction and, therefore, confronting the lower edge of the body 12. The upper end of the spring 19 engages over a stud or knob 23 upon the under side of the body 12 at a point suitably spaced rearwardly from the pivot 13 and opposite the knob 21 on an are having the pivot 13 as its center. It will now be understood that the spring 19 yieldably resists downward swinging movement of the rear portion of the figure body 11 and that a child seated upon the saddle 17 may, by slight body exertion, cause the member 11 to rock about its pivot and thereby produce the jouncin motion which is so much enjoyed by c ildren.

In order that the rocking movement of the figure body may be further yieldably resisted and the degree of resistance varied to adapt the toy for use by children of various weights, a supplemental spring 24 is connected at its lower end as at 25, to the forward side of the cross piece 7 of the upright frame 2 and has its upper end constructed for selective engagement with a series of hooks or eye members 26 arranged upon the lower edge of the portion 15 of the body 11. The members 26 are arranged in a series extending lengthwise of the said edge of the portion 15 of the body and, therefore they are spaced successively greater dismeaave tances from the pivot bolt 13. Therefore, when the spring 24 is connected at its upper end to one of the elements 26 more remote from the pivot bolt 13 than another, the resistance offered by the spring 24 will be increased as this element 26 moves on a greater are than another one of the elements nearer the pivot bolt 13.

If desired, a suitable handle bar 27 may be provided upon the portion 15 of the body to project beyond the opposite sides thereof and provides means whereby the child usin the toy may obtain a firm hold during such use. It will also be understood that, if desired, suitable reins may be associated with the head portion 15 of the body member.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A figure toy comprising a base having members connected at their rear ends and diverging in the direction of their forward ends, an upright comprising side members supported upon the forward ends of the said members of the base and inclined upwardly toward each other, a brace extending between the side members of the upright and relatively bracing and spacing the same, a figure body disposed near one end between the upper ends of the said side members of the upright,. a pivot pin extending between the said figure body and the said ends of the said side members and supporting said body for rocking movement, a brace disposed at its rear end between the connected rear ends of the members of the base and inclined upwardly and forwardlyfrom-its said end and secured at its forward end to'the brace of the upright. the said inclined brace being positioned to extend beneath the portion of the figure body in rear of the ivot therefor,

a seat upon the said portion 0 the body, and a compression spring seated at its lower end against the said inclined brace and at its upper end against the under side of the said portion of the figure body.

2. A figure toy comprising a base having members connected at their rear ends and diverging in the direction of. their forward ends, an upright comprising side members supported upon the forward ends of the said members of the base and inclined upwardly toward each other, a brace extending between the side members of the upright and relatively bracing and spacing the same, a figure body disposed near one end between the upper ends of the said side members of the upright, a pivot pin extending between the said figure body and the said ends of the said side members and supporting said body for rocking movement, a brace disposed at its rear end between the connected rear ends of the members of the base and inclined upwardly and forwardly from its said end and secured at its forward end to the brace of the upright, the said inclined brace being ee-new positioned to extend beneath the portion of the figure y in rear of the pivot therefor, of the uprighm end at its forward end to the a seat upon the said; portion of the bony, a underside of thefigure body at e'point in w compression, spring seated at iis lower end advance ofthe pivot for said bodiy. I

5 against the'seidl inelinedl brace enri at its In testimony whereof I afiix mysigneizure.

upper end against the under side of the saidl portion of the figure holy, and a tension WNERVA A. GIBSUN. [n s.]'

spring connected or, its lower enci to the brace 

